Following is a question by the Hon Chan Hok-fung and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (October 14):

Question:

     Over the past three years, international oil prices have risen sharply, resulting in a surge in fuel costs for Hong Kong's licensed ferry operators (operators). Given that outlying island ferries are the only means of external public transport for the majority of outlying island residents, there are concerns regarding the impact of oil price fluctuations on public ferry services. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the changes in the average price of commercial diesel used by ferries in Hong Kong over the past three years;

(2) whether the authorities know the respective overall total fuel consumption and rates of increase in fuel expenditure for each public ferry operator (for both inner harbour and outlying island routes) over the past three years; and whether they have assessed the impact of soaring oil prices on the revenue and profit position of the various operators;

(3) of the details of the various subsidy schemes introduced by the authorities for operators over the past three years (including short-term diesel subsidies), as well as the amount of subsidy per litre of diesel available to each operator, the subsidy period and the coverage of the subsidy; whether the authorities have assessed if the subsidy amounts can offset the additional costs arising from the increase in oil prices;

(4) of the number of fare adjustments, the average rate of increase and the highest rate of increase for each public ferry route over the past three years; the details of the number of ferry trips reduced, routes suspended or reduced, and adjustments to service hours during the same period as a result of cost pressures (provide the above data in tabular form);

(5) whether the authorities have assessed the actual impact of the above measures of fare adjustment and ferry trip reduction on the commuting of outlying island residents, students travelling to school, elderly people seeking cross-district medical treatment, local tourism and commercial activities; and

(6) whether the authorities will introduce short to medium-term measures to support ferry services; if so, of the timetable and details?

Reply:

President,

     The Government has been paying close attention to the impact of the rising international oil prices on Hong Kong's transport and freight industries. In the light of the sharp rise in international oil prices since March this year, the Transport and Logistics Bureau and Transport Department (TD) have been maintaining close liaison with various public transport operators (including ferry operators) to understand their operating situation. Having consulted the Environment and Ecology Bureau, the reply to Member's question is as follows:

(1) and (2) Generally speaking, local retail fuel prices are determined by oil companies having regard to market principles, and depend on a host of factors, such as the procurement costs, transportation and storage costs, operating costs, land premium and tax. Most ferry operators generally procure diesel from oil companies/diesel distributors through contracts, and do not follow the prices displayed at petrol filling stations. At present, international crude oil prices remain volatile. The price of commercial diesel used by ferries surged starting from March this year. Despite a subsequent decline in the middle of the year, it has climbed back to a high level in recent months.

     According to the information provided by ferry operators, during the period from 2024 to August 2026, the fuel consumption of the various operators remained largely stable. The average monthly fuel consumption and fuel costs per litre were as follows:
 

Year	2024	2025	2026 (as at August)
Average monthly fuel consumption (million litre)	3.2	3.2	3.3
Average fuel cost per litre	$6.4	$5.2	$7.6

     Fuel expenditure is one of the major cost items of ferry operations. In particular for outlying island ferry routes with longer journeys, fuel expenses generally account for about 30 per cent to 40 per cent of their total operating expenses. The sharp rise in fuel prices has increased the overall operating costs of ferry services, placing operational pressure on operators.

     The TD will continue to maintain close communication with various operators and monitor their operational and financial situations, with particular attention to the potential pressure that oil prices may have on the operators' financial situation.

(3) In view of the outbreak of the conflict in the Middle East region, the Government implemented a two-month Diesel Subsidy Scheme (the Scheme) on April 30, 2026, under which various public ferry operators were eligible for a subsidy of $3 per litre of diesel. Based on their actual fuel consumption, the subsidy amounts received by individual ferry operators under the Scheme ranged from approximately tens of thousands to several million dollars, alleviating some of the operational pressure arising from fluctuations in diesel prices.

(4) Details of the fare adjustments made by various ferry operators and their service adjustments implemented due to cost considerations during the period from 2024 to August 2026 are set out in Annex. Generally speaking, operators will review service levels having regard to factors such as the actual operational needs of individual routes, passenger demand, and cost savings, with a view to making optimal use of ferry resources.

(5) The Government attaches great importance on the role of ferry services in meeting the day-to-day commuting needs of outlying island residents and supporting local economic activities. Overall speaking, when considering operators' applications for fare adjustments, the TD will carefully consider various factors in accordance with the established mechanism, including public acceptability, as well as the financial position, service performance, operating data and long-term financial sustainability. of the operators. When considering applications for service adjustments, the TD will examine whether the proposed service adjustments align with changes in the transport demands in the district and holistically consider the operator's operating conditions, including whether the proposed adjustments would help the operator make better use of resources and enhance overall operational efficiency while safeguarding its financial sustainability, with a view to ensuring that the service remains stable.

     The aforementioned fare and service adjustments were made following careful consideration by the TD, with a view to striking a balance between the financial sustainability of ferry services and the travel needs of the public, thereby minimising the impact on residents as far as practicable. Taking the fare adjustments implemented on the six major outlying island ferry routes in April 2026 as an example, after assessing the applications, the TD substantially reduced the fare increase rate from the 15 to 30 per cent as applied by ferry operators to 8 per cent for multi-journey tickets and 12.5 per cent for single-journey tickets, and required the operators to introduce more diverse multi-journey ticket arrangements to alleviate the fare burden on the outlying island residents. Based on the TD's observations, the fare and service adjustments concerned could still address the travel needs of the residents in general.

(6) The Government has all along encouraged ferry operators to maintain their long-term financial stability by a multipronged approach of concurrently enhancing farebox and non-farebox revenue. Meanwhile, the Government continues to alleviate the operating costs of ferry operators through different ongoing measures, such as providing Special Helping Measures to outlying island ferry routes to reimburse operators with certain operating expenses on an accountable basis, as well as reimbursing pier rentals and exempting vessel licence fees for eligible operators including those operating in-harbour routes. The Government also purchases new vessels for outlying island ferry routes under the Vessel Subsidy Scheme to enhance the quality of the fleet, operational efficiency and passenger experience. The TD established an inter-departmental task force in June 2026 to expedite the approval of ferry operators' applications related to commercial activities and proposals to improve pier facilities, thereby facilitating the operators' generation of non-farebox revenue, with a view to enhancing their financial sustainability. The TD will also maintain close communication with ferry operators to explore different measures that help enhance operational efficiency, facilitate operation, as well as increase revenue and reduce costs, so as to ensure the sustainable and stable operation of ferry services.

     Furthermore, the Inter-departmental Task Force on Monitoring Fuel Supply led by the Financial Secretary will continue to dynamically assess the situation in the Middle East region, and fuel supply and prices, so as to ensure the stability of Hong Kong's energy supply. Given the uncertainty of the future trend of oil prices, the Government will continue to closely monitor the development to ensure that the operation of public transport services (including ferry services) remains normal.

     Following is a question by the Hon Chan Hok-fung and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (October 14):

Question:

     Over the past three years, international oil prices have risen sharply, resulting in a surge in fuel costs for Hong Kong's licensed ferry operators (operators). Given that outlying island ferries are the only means of external public transport for the majority of outlying island residents, there are concerns regarding the impact of oil price fluctuations on public ferry services. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the changes in the average price of commercial diesel used by ferries in Hong Kong over the past three years;

(2) whether the authorities know the respective overall total fuel consumption and rates of increase in fuel expenditure for each public ferry operator (for both inner harbour and outlying island routes) over the past three years; and whether they have assessed the impact of soaring oil prices on the revenue and profit position of the various operators;

(3) of the details of the various subsidy schemes introduced by the authorities for operators over the past three years (including short-term diesel subsidies), as well as the amount of subsidy per litre of diesel available to each operator, the subsidy period and the coverage of the subsidy; whether the authorities have assessed if the subsidy amounts can offset the additional costs arising from the increase in oil prices;

(4) of the number of fare adjustments, the average rate of increase and the highest rate of increase for each public ferry route over the past three years; the details of the number of ferry trips reduced, routes suspended or reduced, and adjustments to service hours during the same period as a result of cost pressures (provide the above data in tabular form);

(5) whether the authorities have assessed the actual impact of the above measures of fare adjustment and ferry trip reduction on the commuting of outlying island residents, students travelling to school, elderly people seeking cross-district medical treatment, local tourism and commercial activities; and

(6) whether the authorities will introduce short to medium-term measures to support ferry services; if so, of the timetable and details?

Reply:

President,

     The Government has been paying close attention to the impact of the rising international oil prices on Hong Kong's transport and freight industries. In the light of the sharp rise in international oil prices since March this year, the Transport and Logistics Bureau and Transport Department (TD) have been maintaining close liaison with various public transport operators (including ferry operators) to understand their operating situation. Having consulted the Environment and Ecology Bureau, the reply to Member's question is as follows:

(1) and (2) Generally speaking, local retail fuel prices are determined by oil companies having regard to market principles, and depend on a host of factors, such as the procurement costs, transportation and storage costs, operating costs, land premium and tax. Most ferry operators generally procure diesel from oil companies/diesel distributors through contracts, and do not follow the prices displayed at petrol filling stations. At present, international crude oil prices remain volatile. The price of commercial diesel used by ferries surged starting from March this year. Despite a subsequent decline in the middle of the year, it has climbed back to a high level in recent months.

     According to the information provided by ferry operators, during the period from 2024 to August 2026, the fuel consumption of the various operators remained largely stable. The average monthly fuel consumption and fuel costs per litre were as follows:
 

Year	2024	2025	2026 (as at August)
Average monthly fuel consumption (million litre)	3.2	3.2	3.3
Average fuel cost per litre	$6.4	$5.2	$7.6

     Fuel expenditure is one of the major cost items of ferry operations. In particular for outlying island ferry routes with longer journeys, fuel expenses generally account for about 30 per cent to 40 per cent of their total operating expenses. The sharp rise in fuel prices has increased the overall operating costs of ferry services, placing operational pressure on operators.

     The TD will continue to maintain close communication with various operators and monitor their operational and financial situations, with particular attention to the potential pressure that oil prices may have on the operators' financial situation.

(3) In view of the outbreak of the conflict in the Middle East region, the Government implemented a two-month Diesel Subsidy Scheme (the Scheme) on April 30, 2026, under which various public ferry operators were eligible for a subsidy of $3 per litre of diesel. Based on their actual fuel consumption, the subsidy amounts received by individual ferry operators under the Scheme ranged from approximately tens of thousands to several million dollars, alleviating some of the operational pressure arising from fluctuations in diesel prices.

(4) Details of the fare adjustments made by various ferry operators and their service adjustments implemented due to cost considerations during the period from 2024 to August 2026 are set out in Annex. Generally speaking, operators will review service levels having regard to factors such as the actual operational needs of individual routes, passenger demand, and cost savings, with a view to making optimal use of ferry resources.

(5) The Government attaches great importance on the role of ferry services in meeting the day-to-day commuting needs of outlying island residents and supporting local economic activities. Overall speaking, when considering operators' applications for fare adjustments, the TD will carefully consider various factors in accordance with the established mechanism, including public acceptability, as well as the financial position, service performance, operating data and long-term financial sustainability. of the operators. When considering applications for service adjustments, the TD will examine whether the proposed service adjustments align with changes in the transport demands in the district and holistically consider the operator's operating conditions, including whether the proposed adjustments would help the operator make better use of resources and enhance overall operational efficiency while safeguarding its financial sustainability, with a view to ensuring that the service remains stable.

     The aforementioned fare and service adjustments were made following careful consideration by the TD, with a view to striking a balance between the financial sustainability of ferry services and the travel needs of the public, thereby minimising the impact on residents as far as practicable. Taking the fare adjustments implemented on the six major outlying island ferry routes in April 2026 as an example, after assessing the applications, the TD substantially reduced the fare increase rate from the 15 to 30 per cent as applied by ferry operators to 8 per cent for multi-journey tickets and 12.5 per cent for single-journey tickets, and required the operators to introduce more diverse multi-journey ticket arrangements to alleviate the fare burden on the outlying island residents. Based on the TD's observations, the fare and service adjustments concerned could still address the travel needs of the residents in general.

(6) The Government has all along encouraged ferry operators to maintain their long-term financial stability by a multipronged approach of concurrently enhancing farebox and non-farebox revenue. Meanwhile, the Government continues to alleviate the operating costs of ferry operators through different ongoing measures, such as providing Special Helping Measures to outlying island ferry routes to reimburse operators with certain operating expenses on an accountable basis, as well as reimbursing pier rentals and exempting vessel licence fees for eligible operators including those operating in-harbour routes. The Government also purchases new vessels for outlying island ferry routes under the Vessel Subsidy Scheme to enhance the quality of the fleet, operational efficiency and passenger experience. The TD established an inter-departmental task force in June 2026 to expedite the approval of ferry operators' applications related to commercial activities and proposals to improve pier facilities, thereby facilitating the operators' generation of non-farebox revenue, with a view to enhancing their financial sustainability. The TD will also maintain close communication with ferry operators to explore different measures that help enhance operational efficiency, facilitate operation, as well as increase revenue and reduce costs, so as to ensure the sustainable and stable operation of ferry services.

     Furthermore, the Inter-departmental Task Force on Monitoring Fuel Supply led by the Financial Secretary will continue to dynamically assess the situation in the Middle East region, and fuel supply and prices, so as to ensure the stability of Hong Kong's energy supply. Given the uncertainty of the future trend of oil prices, the Government will continue to closely monitor the development to ensure that the operation of public transport services (including ferry services) remains normal.

     Following is a question by the Hon Chan Hok-fung and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (October 14):

Question:

     Over the past three years, international oil prices have risen sharply, resulting in a surge in fuel costs for Hong Kong's licensed ferry operators (operators). Given that outlying island ferries are the only means of external public transport for the majority of outlying island residents, there are concerns regarding the impact of oil price fluctuations on public ferry services. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the changes in the average price of commercial diesel used by ferries in Hong Kong over the past three years;

(2) whether the authorities know the respective overall total fuel consumption and rates of increase in fuel expenditure for each public ferry operator (for both inner harbour and outlying island routes) over the past three years; and whether they have assessed the impact of soaring oil prices on the revenue and profit position of the various operators;

(3) of the details of the various subsidy schemes introduced by the authorities for operators over the past three years (including short-term diesel subsidies), as well as the amount of subsidy per litre of diesel available to each operator, the subsidy period and the coverage of the subsidy; whether the authorities have assessed if the subsidy amounts can offset the additional costs arising from the increase in oil prices;

(4) of the number of fare adjustments, the average rate of increase and the highest rate of increase for each public ferry route over the past three years; the details of the number of ferry trips reduced, routes suspended or reduced, and adjustments to service hours during the same period as a result of cost pressures (provide the above data in tabular form);

(5) whether the authorities have assessed the actual impact of the above measures of fare adjustment and ferry trip reduction on the commuting of outlying island residents, students travelling to school, elderly people seeking cross-district medical treatment, local tourism and commercial activities; and

(6) whether the authorities will introduce short to medium-term measures to support ferry services; if so, of the timetable and details?

Reply:

President,

     The Government has been paying close attention to the impact of the rising international oil prices on Hong Kong's transport and freight industries. In the light of the sharp rise in international oil prices since March this year, the Transport and Logistics Bureau and Transport Department (TD) have been maintaining close liaison with various public transport operators (including ferry operators) to understand their operating situation. Having consulted the Environment and Ecology Bureau, the reply to Member's question is as follows:

(1) and (2) Generally speaking, local retail fuel prices are determined by oil companies having regard to market principles, and depend on a host of factors, such as the procurement costs, transportation and storage costs, operating costs, land premium and tax. Most ferry operators generally procure diesel from oil companies/diesel distributors through contracts, and do not follow the prices displayed at petrol filling stations. At present, international crude oil prices remain volatile. The price of commercial diesel used by ferries surged starting from March this year. Despite a subsequent decline in the middle of the year, it has climbed back to a high level in recent months.

     According to the information provided by ferry operators, during the period from 2024 to August 2026, the fuel consumption of the various operators remained largely stable. The average monthly fuel consumption and fuel costs per litre were as follows:
 

Year	2024	2025	2026 (as at August)
Average monthly fuel consumption (million litre)	3.2	3.2	3.3
Average fuel cost per litre	$6.4	$5.2	$7.6

     Fuel expenditure is one of the major cost items of ferry operations. In particular for outlying island ferry routes with longer journeys, fuel expenses generally account for about 30 per cent to 40 per cent of their total operating expenses. The sharp rise in fuel prices has increased the overall operating costs of ferry services, placing operational pressure on operators.

     The TD will continue to maintain close communication with various operators and monitor their operational and financial situations, with particular attention to the potential pressure that oil prices may have on the operators' financial situation.

(3) In view of the outbreak of the conflict in the Middle East region, the Government implemented a two-month Diesel Subsidy Scheme (the Scheme) on April 30, 2026, under which various public ferry operators were eligible for a subsidy of $3 per litre of diesel. Based on their actual fuel consumption, the subsidy amounts received by individual ferry operators under the Scheme ranged from approximately tens of thousands to several million dollars, alleviating some of the operational pressure arising from fluctuations in diesel prices.

(4) Details of the fare adjustments made by various ferry operators and their service adjustments implemented due to cost considerations during the period from 2024 to August 2026 are set out in Annex. Generally speaking, operators will review service levels having regard to factors such as the actual operational needs of individual routes, passenger demand, and cost savings, with a view to making optimal use of ferry resources.

(5) The Government attaches great importance on the role of ferry services in meeting the day-to-day commuting needs of outlying island residents and supporting local economic activities. Overall speaking, when considering operators' applications for fare adjustments, the TD will carefully consider various factors in accordance with the established mechanism, including public acceptability, as well as the financial position, service performance, operating data and long-term financial sustainability. of the operators. When considering applications for service adjustments, the TD will examine whether the proposed service adjustments align with changes in the transport demands in the district and holistically consider the operator's operating conditions, including whether the proposed adjustments would help the operator make better use of resources and enhance overall operational efficiency while safeguarding its financial sustainability, with a view to ensuring that the service remains stable.

     The aforementioned fare and service adjustments were made following careful consideration by the TD, with a view to striking a balance between the financial sustainability of ferry services and the travel needs of the public, thereby minimising the impact on residents as far as practicable. Taking the fare adjustments implemented on the six major outlying island ferry routes in April 2026 as an example, after assessing the applications, the TD substantially reduced the fare increase rate from the 15 to 30 per cent as applied by ferry operators to 8 per cent for multi-journey tickets and 12.5 per cent for single-journey tickets, and required the operators to introduce more diverse multi-journey ticket arrangements to alleviate the fare burden on the outlying island residents. Based on the TD's observations, the fare and service adjustments concerned could still address the travel needs of the residents in general.

(6) The Government has all along encouraged ferry operators to maintain their long-term financial stability by a multipronged approach of concurrently enhancing farebox and non-farebox revenue. Meanwhile, the Government continues to alleviate the operating costs of ferry operators through different ongoing measures, such as providing Special Helping Measures to outlying island ferry routes to reimburse operators with certain operating expenses on an accountable basis, as well as reimbursing pier rentals and exempting vessel licence fees for eligible operators including those operating in-harbour routes. The Government also purchases new vessels for outlying island ferry routes under the Vessel Subsidy Scheme to enhance the quality of the fleet, operational efficiency and passenger experience. The TD established an inter-departmental task force in June 2026 to expedite the approval of ferry operators' applications related to commercial activities and proposals to improve pier facilities, thereby facilitating the operators' generation of non-farebox revenue, with a view to enhancing their financial sustainability. The TD will also maintain close communication with ferry operators to explore different measures that help enhance operational efficiency, facilitate operation, as well as increase revenue and reduce costs, so as to ensure the sustainable and stable operation of ferry services.

     Furthermore, the Inter-departmental Task Force on Monitoring Fuel Supply led by the Financial Secretary will continue to dynamically assess the situation in the Middle East region, and fuel supply and prices, so as to ensure the stability of Hong Kong's energy supply. Given the uncertainty of the future trend of oil prices, the Government will continue to closely monitor the development to ensure that the operation of public transport services (including ferry services) remains normal.

     Following is a question by the Hon Vincent Cheng and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (October 14):

Question:

     There are views that the authorities should further enhance waterborne transport services in Hong Kong and improve the ancillary facilities, so as to facilitate travel by members of the public and enhance visitors' experience of visiting Victoria Harbour, thereby injecting vitality into the harbourfront and promoting the development of the tourism industry. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the total patronage, frequency and average occupancy rate of the various ferry routes and water taxi routes in Victoria Harbour in the past three years, and the ratio of residents to visitors taking such routes;

(2) whether the authorities will review the existing ferry routes or water taxi services, and explore the feasibility of extending the routes to more locations with development potential (e.g. the Kai Tak Sports Park and the Cheung Sha Wan Promenade), or introducing special routes to tie in with large-scale events held at the harbourfront; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(3) as it is reported that water taxis suffer from low public awareness, whether the authorities have studied with the operator ways to step up publicity work, such as drawing reference from overseas examples to set up service stations with clearer signage and greater recognition near the shores, or reviewed the existing mode of operation;

(4) whether the authorities will launch improvement programmes targeting the ferry piers of in-harbour routes in Victoria Harbour, as well as some public piers in Kowloon and on Hong Kong Island with higher utilisation rates (e.g. the landing facilities in the vicinity of Tsim Sha Tsui East), including enhancing barrier-free facilities, installing electronic display panels and carrying out beautification works; and

(5) given that under the Pilot Scheme for Electric Ferries implemented by the Government, some electric ferries have progressively commenced sea trials, of the current effectiveness of the trials of the various routes, and the respective timetables for formally putting the various electric ferries into service?

Reply:

President,

     In-harbour ferry services (including water taxi) play a supplementary role in Hong Kong's public transport system. Apart from serving the commuting needs of local residents, they also attract visitors exploring Victoria Harbour. The Transport Department (TD) has been closely monitoring the operations of ferry services, and keeping in close communications with ferry operators for service adjustments in view of changes in passenger demand.

     Having consulted the Environment and Ecology Bureau, the reply to the Member's question is as follows:

(1) The total patronage, headway and average occupancy rate of franchised and licensed in-harbour ferry routes (including water taxi in the past three years (i.e. from 2023 to 2025)) are set out in the Annex. Ferry operators do not keep data on the ratio of residents to visitors among its passengers. According to the observations of the TD and ferry operators, licensed ferry services mainly serve local passengers, while tourists account for about 60 per cent of the passengers of the Star Ferry. 

(2) The TD has welcomed and encouraged ferry operators to proactively consider introducing suitable new routes to attract more members of the public and tourists on board. The TD will take into account factors such as passenger demand, availability of pier or landing steps facilities, financial viability, and existing public transport services according to the established procedures, and discuss with the operators and advise on service details of the proposed routes.

     For instance, following the commissioning of WestK Quay, the water taxi operator, with the support of the TD, launched the new West Kowloon – Central route on November 10, 2025, providing pet co-ride service. The route has been well received since its launch.

(3) The water taxi is mainly of a sightseeing and tourism nature, providing services for the public and tourists travelling across the Victoria Harbour since its commissioning in July 2021. The TD has been actively assisting the water taxi operator in co-operating with the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and other government departments to promote water taxi services, including promoting the water taxi at the HKTB's Visitor Centres and website, enhancing signage and providing water taxi service information in tourist areas such as Wan Chai and Tsim Sha Tsui (including the West Kowloon Cultural District). In addition, regarding facilities, the water taxi operator has set up a ticketing counter at the Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui East to promote water taxi services and facilitate the handling of enquiries from tourists and ticket purchases. The water taxi operator has also set up a passenger waiting area and enhanced publicity at Central Pier No. 9 since February 2026 to attract passengers.
      
     The TD will work with the water taxi operator to closely monitor its operation, and enhance water taxi services in response to passenger demand.

(4) For ferry piers (such as the Hung Hom (South) Ferry Pier) used by licensed or franchised ferry operators and other public landing facilities (such as the Central and Wan Chai public piers and public landing steps), the TD would co-ordinate with relevant departments (including the Architectural Services Department, the Civil Engineering and Development Department, and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department) to continuously inspect the pier structures and facilities, and arrange repair and maintenance works as necessary to ensure their safety and normal operations.

     At the same time, the Government has been committed to improving the waiting environment and facilities at ferry piers. In particular, lifting platform installation works were carried out at the Hung Hom (South) Ferry Pier in 2023 to facilitate access by wheelchair passengers. In addition, accessible toilets, emergency call bells, and wide gates/turnstiles have been added at most in-harbour ferry piers; electronic display panels are also installed at some ferry piers to provide passengers with sailing information.

     The Government will continue to review the utilisation of public landing facilities from time to time and listen to views of stakeholders, with a view to enhancing the design and operational arrangements of landing facilities.

(5) To promote the trial of electric ferries in Hong Kong, the Government has earmarked $350 million to implement the Pilot Scheme for Electric Ferries (Pilot Scheme) to introduce four electric ferries (e-ferries). Among them, three e-ferries have commenced trials successively since December 2024 (for the North Point – Hung Hom / Kowloon City routes), May 2025 (for the water taxi route), and June 2026 (for the Sai Wan Ho – Kwun Tong route), and have been progressively deployed to provide passenger services. Their battery range has been sufficient to meet the electricity demands for the daily total sailing distances of their respective ferry operators, and the overall operations have generally been smooth. Tender invitation for the remaining e-ferry is underway, with its trial targeted to commence in 2029. 

     The Government has established an inter-departmental working group to oversee and evaluate the operational and environmental performance and effectiveness of the e-ferries. The effectiveness of the e-ferries and their associated facilities will be evaluated and concluded upon completion of all trials. Should the Pilot Scheme yield positive results, the Government intends to encourage ferry operators to continue operating the relevant e-ferries at their own cost after completion of the Pilot Scheme, in order to help reduce emissions.

     The Labour Department (LD) today (October 14) announced the imposition of an administrative sanction on Wilson Logistics Limited. With immediate effect, the LD has terminated the processing of an application for importing labour previously submitted by the company under the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme (ESLS). In parallel, the LD will, from today, refuse to process any applications submitted by the company for a period of one year.

     A spokesman for the LD said, "After an investigation, it was established that the above company had breached the following requirements under the ESLS. An administrative sanction is thus imposed for the following reasons: 

     (i) providing the LD with false information on the number of full-time local employees; and

     (ii) failing to fulfil the 2:1 manning ratio of full-time local employees to imported workers continuously after importing labour."

     The spokesman stressed, "Employers applying for the importation of workers under the ESLS should strictly comply with the scheme requirements, including according priority to employing suitable local workers. The ESLS stipulates that if an employer violates labour or immigration laws, the requirements of the ESLS, or the Standard Employment Contract, the LD will impose an administrative sanction on the employer. Such sanctions may include terminating the processing of submitted applications of the employer, withdrawing approvals for the importation of workers previously granted, and refusing to process any subsequent applications submitted by the employer."